Double Bay will score a new local cinema after plans have been revealed that the car park at Cross Street will be demolished to make way for a new cinema complex with retail and community spaces.
Read: New Public Plaza to Open on Knox Street, Double Bay
The new complex is a welcome addition to Double Bay after its only cinema, the Greater Union Cinema, closed back in 2004. Since then, there have been a few proposals to open one in the area but no cinema has opened until now.
The closest ones from Double Bay are the Palace Chauvel Cinema at Oxford St in Paddington and Event Cinemas Bondi Junction.
Aside from a multi-screen cinema complex, the development will also feature a new office space; around 4,000sqm of residential space, including an estimated 18 apartments and car park; a dedicated community space and a new 380-space basement public car park.
The car park will have the same number of public parking spaces, with additional parking for patrons and tenants.
The redevelopment of Cross Street Car Park is a project of Woollahra Council in partnership with Pallas Group, Assembly Funds Management and Fortis.
Craig Swift-McNair, General Manager of Woollahra Council said that the proposal will enhance the Double Bay centre’s social, cultural, and commercial life and affirms the Council’s ongoing commitment to revitalising the area.
“This is a great result for the community, and will complement the significant improvements to Double Bay delivered in recent years by Council, including an award-winning library, the highly-successful Kiaora Place redevelopment, and ongoing revitalisation of the commercial precinct, which has been a major focus for Council,” Mr Swift-McNair said.
“Importantly, the project will be delivered at no cost to Council or ratepayers, while adding valuable new assets which will provide long term benefit to the community.”
The project is now in the planning stage, which involves extensive public exhibition and community consultation at both Planning Proposal and DA stages.
Construction is anticipated to commence in 2024 or 2025.